Method of and apparatus for producing matrices



R. C. BAKER Filed July 17. 1929 METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCINGMATRICES fnveniov: Roy U. ei, @9315' f/lys.

Aug. 9, 1932.

Patented Aug. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE ROY C. BAKER, FWOLLASTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-FIFTH TO LOUIS i A. JONES, OFBELMONT, MASSACHUSETTS METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MATRICESApplication led July 17, 1929. Serial No. 378,879.

This application relates to a. novel apparatus for producing matricesused for casting stereotype plates. The method in common I use involvesthe idea of pressing or beating the soft, moist paper into the type. Inthe production of matrices for book plates, the paper must be beaten into a good depth to produce a clear sharp impression in the subsequentprinting from the plate. This is a slow, laborious, and thereforeexpensive, op-

eration, and at best does not produce altogether satisfactory results,particularly on closed letters, such as a, b, d, e, g, o, p and yothers, because a certain amount of air is is bound to be trapped in theclosed depressions, thereby preventing the paper from reaching the fulldepth of the letter. These diiiiculties and disadvantages are avoided bythe use of my improved apparatus.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the followingdescription,when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing ofone specific apparatus embodying the invention, while its scope will bemore particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the apparatus, minus the suction andcompression pumps;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the apparatus, minus the clamping means; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view at an enlarged scale on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing'and to the embodiment of the apparatusillustrated therein, there is shown a page of type 5 (seev Fig. 3) heldin a chase 6 in the usual manner. Superimposed upon the type faces is asheet of soft, moist paper 7, which some stereotypers call the mat,These parts are placed in a closed chamber 8, comprising a casing 9closed at the top by a flexible wall, such as a rubber blanket 10, whosemargin overlies the margin of the casing. Air is exhausted from thischamber' by the use of an appropriate suction pump 11 (see Fig. 2),connected to the chamber by al pipe 12.

The margin of the blanket is clamped to provide a seal, by the use of asecond casing 13, which may be secured to the first casing by anysuitable means,.such as a press 14, having a base 15, a clamping plate16, and a clamping screw 17, provided with a handwheel 18. It should beunderstood, of course, that this clampingmeans is merely typical, andthat other means may be provided for securing the two parts of thecasing together. The means shown, however, is convenient, be-

cause it interferes in no way with the mar- Y gin of the blanket.

When air is exhausted from the chamber 8, the paper can be forced intothe type to the full depth, because no air pockets are formed in thetype faces. While air at atmospheric pressure might be admitted into thecasing 13, and thus serve to cause the blanket to press the paper intothe type, in the present example, the upper casing 13 has a chamber 14,to which any fluid such as air, v c,

steam or water under pressure, may be admitted. In the present example,the casing 13 is connected by a flexible conduit 15 to an air compressor16, by means of which the chamber may be supplied with air underconsiderable pressure. Thus, by exhausting air yfrom the lower chamberand supplying compressed air to the upper chamber, the blanket is causedto press the paper mat into the type.

If desired, there may be provided mechanical means for pressing theblanket against the typeface, and, as shown in the drawing, I haveprovided for this purpose a. roller 17 of suitable resilient materialsuch as rubber,

to whichv pressure may be applied, as by mounting the roller on a shaft18, having at each end a roller 19 running a horizontal groove 2()presentedy by a. track 21, which is free to move vertically andis urgedin a movement of the track under the influence of the springs when theupper casing is lifted may be limited by suitable means, such as studs28 secured to the casing, and extending through slots 29 presented bythe track.

The roller may be moved to and fro by the use of a yoke 30 attached tothe shaftand pivotally connected to a rod 31 (see Fig. 2), which extendsthrough a stuffing box 32 to the exterior of the casing. Reciprocationof this rod will cause the roller to travel back and forth across theblanket.

By the use of the described apparatus, the paper mat is forced into thetype faces to the full depth, thereby producing a matrix from whichthere can bey casta stereotype which will produce a clear, sharpimpression, and ,yet the method is rapid and inexpensive.

Having thus described the preferred appa# ratas, but without limitingmyself-thereto, what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is:e

l. Matrix producing apparatus comprising, in combination, means forminga sealed chambel` for the type and the matrix paper, said chamber havinga flexibleV Wall, and means for exhausting air from saidchamber andcausing said wall to urge said paper aganst'the type face. i

2. Matrix producing apparatus comprising, in combination, means forminga sealed chamber for the: type and the matrix paper, said chamber havinga fiexible wall, means for exhausting air from said chamber, and meansfor applying uid pressure to the outer surface of said wall.

3. Matrix producing apparatus comprising, in combination, means formingal sealed chamber for the type and the matrix-paper, saidy chamberhaving a Hexible Wall, means for exhausting air from said chamber, andmeans for applying mechanical pressure to vthe outer surface of saidwall.

4. Matrix producing apparatus comprising,7in combination, means forminga sealed chamber for the type and the matrix paper, ysaid chamber havinga flexible wall, means for exhausting air from said chamber, and meansfor applying fluid and mechanical vpressure to the cuter surface of saidwall.

5. Matrix producing apparatus comprising, in combination, two casingparts and an interposed flexible Wall forming a suction chamber for thetype-form and the matrix paper at one side of said wall and a pressurechamber at the other side of said wall, means for exhausting air fromsaid' suction chamber, and meansfor supplying fluid under pressuret-said pressure chamber.

6. Matrix producing apparatus comprising,1in combination, two ca singparts and an interposed iexible wall forming' a suction chamber for thetype-form and the matrix paper at onel side ofsaid wall and a pressurechamberv at the other side of said Wall, means for exhausting air fromsaid suction chamber, means for supplying fluid under pressure to saidpressure chamber, and mechanical pressure means Within said pressurechamber for causing said Wall to press said matrix paper against saidtype-form. y

7. Matrix producing apparatus comprising, in combina-tion, two casingparts and an interposed flexible Wall forming V a suction chamber forthe type-form andthe matrix paper at one side of said wall and apressure chamber at the other side of said wall, means for exhaustingair from said suction chamber, means for supplying uid under pressure tosaid pressure chamber, and mechanical pressure means including aspring-pressed'roller within said pressure chamber for causing said Wallto press said matrix paper againstisaid type-form.

8. Matrix producing apparatus comprising, in combination, two casingparts and an interposed 4flexible wall forming a suction chamber for thetype-form and the matrix paper atl one side of said wall and a. pressurechamber at the other side of said wall, means for exhausting air fromsaid suction` chamber, means for supplying luid under pressure to saidpressure chamber, and mechanicalpressure .means including aspring-pressed roller and roller operating means within said pressurechamber' forcausing said wall "to press said matrix paper against saidtype-form.-

9. ,Matrix producing apparatus comprising, in combinatiomtwo casingparts and an interposed exible wall forming a suction chamber for thetype-form land the matrix paper atene side of said wall and a pressurechamber at the'other sidefof said wall, means for exhausting air fromsaid suction cham'- ber, means .for supplying fluid underpressure tosaid pressure chamber, and mechanical pressure means including aresilient roller'within said pressure chamber for causing said wall topress said matrix paper against said type-form. f

10. Matrix producing apparatuscmnprising, in combination, means`forming' a closed chamber having a flexible, imperforate wall,

type Within said chamber, said :type facingv toward'said wall, therebeing apspace between said wall and the type face for the `matrix paper,and means for exhausting vair from said chamber thereby to cause-said`wall to urge the paper against the type face.

11. Matrix producing apparatus, comprising, in combination, meansforming a 'closed chamber having a liexible, imperforate wall. typewithin said chamber, said type facing toward-said wall, there being aspace between said wall and the type face for the matrix paper` andmeans for exhaustingy air from said chamber and applying fluid pressureto the cuter surface of said wall, thereby to cause said wall to urgethe paper against the typeface.

12. Matrix producing apparatus comprising, in combination, means forminga closed chamber for the type and the matrix paper, said meanscomprising a Wall movable to- Ward the type face, and means forexhausting air from said chamber.

13. Matrix producing apparatus comprising, in combination, means forminga closed chamber for the type and the matrix paper, said meanscomprising a Wall having a iexible face movable toward the type face,and means for exhausting air from said chamber.

14. Matrix producing apparatus comprising, in combination, means forminga closed chamber for :the type and the matrix paper, said meanscomprising a flexible Wall movable toward the type face, and means forexhausting air from said chamber.

15. Matrix producing apparatus Comprising., in combination, meansforming a closed p chamber for the type and the matrix paper,

means for exhausting air from said chamber, and means for Causing thematrix paper to be urged against the type face While there is a loweredair pressure in said chamber.

16. Matrix producing apparatus comprising7 in combination, means forminga closed chamber for the type and the matrix paper, means for exhaustingair from said chamber, and means including a iexible body for pressingthe matrix paper against the type ace.

17. Matrix producing apparatus comprising, in combination, a casingprovided With a chamber having an opening through which the type and thematrix paper may be introduced into said chamber With the type facedirected toward said opening and With the matrix paper superimposed uponthe type face, means presenting a closure Jfor said opening and apressure member for pressing the matrix paper upon the type face, andmeans for exhausting air from said chamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication.

ROY C. BAKER.

